India and the UAE have confirmed the dates for Eid-ul-Fitr. In India, the crescent moon was not sighted on Thursday, so Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday, March 21. In the UAE, the moon was sighted in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, marking the beginning of the month of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan. The UAE will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Friday, March 20.
Fatehpuri Masjid Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmad said that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of the mosque had contacted several places but was told that the moon was not sighted. Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Shaban Bukhari also said that the crescent moon had not been sighted on Thursday, and that Eid-ul-Fitr will therefore fall on Saturday.
The UAE's Astronomy Center announced that the crescent was observed at 5:10 pm from Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi. The country had earlier announced timings for Eid-ul-Fitr prayers across its seven emirates.
